A teenage girl desperate to wear her dream dress to her school formal lost an incredible 60kg in only 12 months – following years of severe bullying and fat-shaming.
Josie Desgrand, a 17-year-old high school student from Hervey Bay, Queensland, is now unrecognisable after shedding half her body weight in a single year.
Tipping the scales at 120kg at her heaviest at the tender age of 16, Josie vowed to silence her bullies with the goal of losing enough kilos to fit into her Year 12 formal dress this November.
Josephine Desgrand (pictured before weight loss) says she weighed 120kg and was constantly bullied
The 17-year-old high school student (left before) says she lost a staggering 60kg thanks to diet and light exercise (pictured right after
The year 12 student told Daily Mail Australia she dropped 60kg ‘naturally’ through diet and only minimal exercise over 12 months and now feels like a completely different person.
‘I hated myself and the way I looked. I didn’t have any friends and I just didn’t like going out in public,’ Josie said.
‘But now, my confidence has skyrocketed. I’m the lead in the school musical and found the perfect dress for my formal next month. I don’t have to wear plus size!’
Josie explains her weight loss was achieved through a combination of strict dieting and light exercise – but is still yet to join a gym.
The year 12 student told Daily Mail Australia she dropped 60kg ‘naturally’ through diet and only minimal exercise over 12 months and now feels like a completely different person (left before and right after)
Josie explains her weight loss was achieved through a combination of strict dieting and light exercise – but is still yet to join a gym (Pictured before)
‘But now, my confidence has skyrocketed. I’m the lead in the school musical and found the perfect dress for my formal next month. I don’t have to wear plus size,’ she said (Pictured after)
‘Before losing weight I would constantly eat bread and wraps, ate huge portions and went back for seconds and thirds all the time,’ she said.
‘So I cut sugar completely, cut the carbs and bread and now I eat far smaller portions. Three meals a day with no processes foods.’
The high school student attempted to lose weight when she was younger, but failed, and truly believed her only option was having surgery.
But through sheer determination – and the desire to finally put an end to the callous schoolyard bullying – Josie was able to transform her life.
The high school student attempted to lose weight when she was younger, but failed, and truly believed her only option was having surgery (Pictured before)
through sheer determination – and the desire to finally put an end to the callous schoolyard bullying – Josie was able to transform her life (Pictured after)
‘I never thought I’d be able to do this, I want to show everyone what I look like,’ Josie proudly said.
‘I’m now doing things and making plans I would never have dreamed of doing before losing the weight.’
After finishing her high-schooling career next month, Josie plans on travelling around Europe with her boyfriend – something she says she ‘never’ would have done at 120kg.
Josie’s body transformation has also resulted in a plethora of knock-on effects for her health.
After finishing her high-schooling career next month, Josie plans on travelling around Europe with her boyfriend – something she says she ‘never’ would have done at 120kg (Pictured right before and left after)
The Hervey Bay student says she lost 60 kg in one year through natural means, and did not have surgery
Josie’s body transformation has also resulted in a plethora of knock-on effects for her health
The teenager says her skin is clearer and she has an abundance of energy to do everything she has ever wanted to achieve.
‘I don’t see it as a diet now, I see it as a lifestyle. The first two weeks of eating healthy was so difficult but now it’s easy for me.’
Josie’s mother Catherine is similarly delighted with her daughter’s incredible weight loss – and says she is now an inspiration to many young girls.
The teenager says her skin is clearer and she has an abundance of energy to do everything she has ever wanted to achieve (Pictured after)
‘I don’t see it as a diet now, I see it as a lifestyle. The first two weeks of eating healthy was so difficult but now it’s easy for me,’ Josie said
The high school student says she found her perfect formal dress and is looking forward to wearing it next month
‘It hasn’t just been a change in her body, it’s been a change in her life,’ Catherine said.
‘There’s no better feeling watching my daughter turn her life around like this – and she’s had so many teenage girls reach out to her to and look at her as a source of inspiration.’
Josie is now sharing her weight loss journey on her Instagram and YouTube channel.
She now has confidence in school and at work and can fit into her dream school formal dress (Pictured left before and right after)
Tipping the scales at 120kg at her heaviest at the tender age of 16, Josie vowed to silence her bullies with the goal of losing enough kilos to fit into her Year 12 formal dress
Before and after shots of the 17-year-old show the phenomenal difference losing 60kg has made